Joint movement monitoring system

Abstract

A preferred joint movement monitoring system ( 10 ) includes a carrier ( 18 ) configured for wearing by a subject about a wrist thereof and a plurality of position sensors ( 12, 14, 16 ) coupled with the carrier ( 18 ) for sensing various hand positions of the subject. The preferred carrier ( 18 ) is in the form of an elastic wrist band that encompasses the wrist and adjacent portions of the hand and forearm without covering any portions of the subject's fingers. The preferred sensors ( 12, 14, 16 ) include Hall effect sensors mounted to the carrier ( 18 ) on the forearm side of the wrist.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A joint movement monitoring apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of position sensors;  
       a carrier, carrying said sensors, configured for wearing by a subject and for positioning said sensors adjacent the joint of the subject;  
       said sensors including means for sensing a plurality of joint positions of the subject and for producing position signals representative thereof;  
       a controller including means for receiving and responding to said position signals for deriving position data therefrom representative of said joint positions and storing said data; and  
       each of said sensors including an active component coupled with said carrier, said active component configured to be attached adjacent one side of the joint of the subject, and a static component configured to span the joint and coupled with said carrier, said static component configured to be attached adjacent the opposite side of the joint of a subject.  
     
     
       2. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , said static component including a sensor rod having one end coupled with said carrier and configured to be attached adjacent the first side of said joint of the subject and with the other end thereof presenting a magnet, said active component including, a slide lock having a Hall effect sensor and a rod opening defined therein for slidably receiving said magnet. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus as set forth in  claim 1 , said carrier being configured for substantially encompassing the joint of a subject and adjacent portions of the anatomy of the subject. 
     
     
       4. A joint movement monitoring apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of position sensors;  
       a carrier, carrying said sensors, configured for wearing by the subject and for positioning said sensor adjacent the joint of the subject;  
       said sensors including means for sensing a plurality of joint positions of the subject and for producing position signals representative thereof;  
       a controller including means for receiving and responding to said position signals for deriving position data therefrom representative of said joint positions and storing said position data; and  
       said controller including means for determining whether said joint positions exceed a predetermined limit.  
     
     
       5. A joint movement monitoring apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of position sensors;  
       a carrier, carrying said sensors, configured for wearing by the subject and for positioning said sensors adjacent the joint of the subject;  
       said sensors including means for sensing a plurality of joint positions of the subject and for producing position signals representative thereof;  
       a controller including means for receiving and responding to said position signals for deriving position data therefrom representative of said joint positions and storing said position data; and  
       said controller including means for producing an audible output if said joint positions exceed a predetermined limit.  
     
     
       6. A joint movement monitoring apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of position sensors including a flexion/extension sensor, an ulnar/radial deviation sensor, and a pronation/supination sensor;  
       a carrier, carrying said sensors, configured for wearing by the subject and for positioning said sensors adjacent the joint of the subject;  
       said sensors including means for sensing a plurality of joint positions of the subject and for producing position signals representative thereof, each of said sensors including a sensor rod having one end coupled with said carrier and the distal end thereof presenting a magnet in a slide block with a rod opening defined therein for slidably receiving said magnet and a hall effect sensor positioned for sensing said magnet; and  
       the controller including means for receiving and responding to said position signals for deriving position data therefrom representative of said joint positions and storing said position data, means for determining whether said joint positions exceed a predetermined limit, and means for producing an audible output if said joint positions exceed a predetermined limit.  
     
     
       7. A joint movement monitoring apparatus comprising: 
       a plurality of joint position sensors capable of sensing a plurality of joint positions of the monitored joint and producing position signals representative thereof,  
       a one-piece carrier, carrying said sensors, configured for slipping over and surrounding the joint to be monitored and for positioning said sensors adjacent the joint to be monitored; and  
       a controller adapted to receive said position signals and derive position data therefrom representative of said joint positions and store said position data, wherein said controller further comprises an audible alarm which is sounded if joint positions exceed a predetermined limit.